📋 Fact-checked: 사증민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 (March 2026, p.182–184) — Ministry of Justice, Korea
The E-7 (Specific Activity) visa covers a government-designated list of occupations that foreign professionals are permitted to work in. Your job title must match one of these designated occupations — there is no flexibility on this point. This page gives you the complete official list, organized by subcategory, so you can quickly check whether your role qualifies.
📑 In this guide
- The Four E-7 Subcategories
- E-7-1: Managers (15 occupations)
- E-7-1: Professionals (52 occupations)
- E-7-2: Semi-Professional (10 occupations)
- E-7-3: General Skilled (14 occupations)
- E-7-4: Skilled Labor — K-Point (3 occupations)
- Special Categories: E-7-S, E-7-Y, E-7-T
- How to Check If Your Job Qualifies
E-7-1
67
Professional & Manager occupations
E-7-2
10
Semi-professional occupations
E-7-3
14
General skilled occupations
E-7-4
3
K-Point skilled labor categories
📋 Important: 94 occupations, not 91
You may see “91 occupations” referenced elsewhere. The March 2026 official manual lists 94 designated occupations across all E-7 subcategories (15 + 52 + 10 + 14 + 3 = 94). Several occupations have been added or reclassified since earlier versions. Always use the most current manual for verification.
1. The Four E-7 Subcategories
E-7-1
Professional (전문인력)
Managers and professionals — management, science, engineering, IT, finance, law, education, marketing, design. The largest and most accessible category for professional foreigners. 67 designated occupations. Minimum salary: KRW 31,120,000/year.
E-7-2
Semi-Professional (준전문인력)
Office and service workers — flight attendants, hotel staff, casino dealers, chefs, medical coordinators. 10 designated occupations. Stricter employer quotas apply. Minimum salary: KRW 26,130,000/year.
E-7-3
General Skilled (일반기능인력)
Skilled trades — shipbuilding, aviation maintenance, animal care, halal butchering. 14 designated occupations. Most require government ministry recommendation. Minimum salary: KRW 26,130,000/year.
E-7-4
Skilled Labor K-Point (숙련기능인력)
Manufacturing, agriculture, construction workers upgrading from E-9/H-2. Uses the K-Point scoring system (200+ points required). 3 broad occupational categories. Must already be in Korea. Minimum salary: KRW 26,000,000/year.
2. E-7-1: Managers (관리자) — 15 Occupations
📋 Source: March 2026 manual, p.182 | 분류: 대분류 1 (관리자), 직능수준 3–4
★ = Commonly applied occupation
† = Government ministry recommendation required (marked in table)
관리자 (Managers)
15 occupations| 1 | Economic interest group executive (경제이익단체 고위임원) | S110 |
| 2 | Corporate executive — CEO, President, VP (기업 고위임원) | 1120 |
| 3 | Business support manager (경영지원 관리자) | 1212 |
| 4 | Education manager (교육 관리자) | 1312 |
| 5 | Insurance and finance manager (보험 및 금융관리자) | 1320 |
| 6 | Culture, arts, design and media manager (문화·예술·디자인 및 영상관련 관리자) | 1340 |
| 7 | IT and communications manager (정보통신관련 관리자) | 1350 |
| 8 | Other professional services manager (기타 전문서비스 관리자) | 1390 |
| 9 | Construction and mining manager (건설 및 광업 관련 관리자) | 1411 |
| 10 | Production manager (제품 생산관련 관리자) † | 1413 |
| 11 | Agriculture and fisheries manager (농림·어업관련 관리자) | 14901 |
| 12 | Sales and marketing manager (영업 및 판매 관련 관리자) | 1511 |
| 13 | Transport manager / Ship management specialist (운송관련 관리자) † | 1512 |
| 14 | Accommodation, travel, entertainment and sports manager (숙박·여행·오락 및 스포츠 관련 관리자) † | 1521 |
| 15 | Food service manager (음식서비스관련 관리자) | 1522 |
💡 Manager roles: no standard qualification requirement
For the first two categories — Economic Interest Group Executive (S110) and Corporate Executive (1120) — the Ministry of Justice does not specify minimum academic or experience requirements, leaving qualification assessment to employer discretion. All other manager roles follow the standard E-7 qualification requirements.
3. E-7-1: Professionals (전문가 및 관련종사자) — 52 Occupations
📋 Source: March 2026 manual, p.182–183 | 분류: 대분류 2 (전문가 및 관련종사자), 직능수준 3–4
IT / Engineering
16 occupations| 1 | Computer hardware engineer (컴퓨터 하드웨어 기술자) | 2211 |
| 2 | Telecommunications engineer (통신공학 기술자) | 2212 |
| 3 | Computer systems designer and analyst (컴퓨터시스템 설계 및 분석가) | 2221 |
| 4 | Systems software developer (시스템 소프트웨어 개발자) | 2222 |
| 5 | Application software developer (응용 소프트웨어 개발자) | 2223 |
| 6 | Web developer (웹 개발자) | 2224 |
| 7 | Data specialist (데이터 전문가) | 2231 |
| 8 | Network systems developer (네트워크시스템 개발자) | 2232 |
| 9 | Information security specialist (정보 보안 전문가) | 2233 |
| 10 | Computer hardware engineer — returned company (컴퓨터 하드웨어 기술자, 국내복귀기업) † | 2211 |
| 11 | Electrical engineer (전기공학 기술자) † | 2341 |
| 12 | Electronics engineer (전자공학 기술자) † | 2342 |
| 13 | Mechanical engineer (기계공학 기술자) | 2351 |
| 14 | Plant engineer (플랜트공학 기술자) † | 23512 |
| 15 | Robotics engineer (로봇공학 전문가) † | 2352 |
| 16 | Automotive / shipbuilding / aerospace / railway engineer (자동차·조선·비행기·철도차량공학 전문가) † | S2353 |
Science & Research
5 occupations| 1 | Life sciences specialist (생명과학 전문가) † | 2111 |
| 2 | Natural sciences specialist (자연과학 전문가) | 2112 |
| 3 | Social science researcher (사회과학 연구원) | 2122 |
| 4 | Industrial safety and risk specialist (산업안전 및 위험 전문가) | 2364 |
| 5 | Gas and energy engineer (가스·에너지 기술자) † | 2372 |
Architecture & Civil Engineering
5 occupations| 1 | Architect (건축가) | 2311 |
| 2 | Architectural engineer (건축공학 기술자) | 2312 |
| 3 | Civil engineering specialist (토목공학 전문가) | 2313 |
| 4 | Landscape engineer (조경 기술자) | 2314 |
| 5 | Urban and transportation specialist (도시 및 교통관련 전문가) | 2315 |
Other Engineering
4 occupations| 1 | Chemical engineer (화학공학 기술자) | 2321 |
| 2 | Metal and materials engineer (금속·재료 공학 기술자) | 2331 |
| 3 | Environmental engineer (환경공학 기술자) | 2371 |
| 4 | Textile engineer (섬유공학 기술자) | 2392 |
Education
4 occupations| 1 | University lecturer (대학 강사) | 2512 |
| 2 | Overseas technical school instructor (해외기술전문학교 기술강사) | 2543 |
| 3 | Education-related specialist (교육관련 전문가) | 2591 |
| 4 | Foreign/international school teacher (외국인학교·외국교육기관·국제학교·영재학교 교사) | 2599 |
Law, Administration & Finance
5 occupations| 1 | Legal specialist (법률 전문가) | 261 |
| 2 | Government and public administration specialist (정부 및 공공 행정 전문가) | 2620 |
| 3 | Special agency administrative officer (특수기관 행정요원) | S2620 |
| 4 | Management and consulting specialist (경영 및 진단 전문가) | 2715 |
| 5 | Finance and insurance specialist (금융 및 보험 전문가) | 272 |
Marketing, Sales & Business Development
8 occupations| 1 | Product planning specialist (상품기획 전문가) | 2731 |
| 2 | Travel product developer (여행상품 개발자) † | 2732 |
| 3 | Advertising and PR specialist (광고 및 홍보 전문가) † | 2733 |
| 4 | Research specialist (조사 전문가) | 2734 |
| 5 | Event planner (행사 기획자) † | 2735 |
| 6 | Overseas sales representative (해외 영업원) | 2742 |
| 7 | Technical sales representative (기술 영업원) | 2743 |
| 8 | Technology management specialist (기술경영 전문가) † | S2743 |
Language, Media & Design
5 occupations| 1 | Translator / Interpreter (번역가·통역가) | 2814 |
| 2 | Announcer (아나운서) † | 28331 |
| 3 | Designer (디자이너) — graphic, industrial, fashion, etc. | 285 |
| 4 | Visual media designer (영상관련 디자이너) | S2855 |
| 5 | Drafting technician (제도사) | 2395 |
Healthcare
1 occupation| 1 | Registered nurse (간호사) | 2430 |
4. E-7-2: Semi-Professional (준전문인력) — 10 Occupations
📋 Source: March 2026 manual, p.183 | 분류: 대분류 3–5 (사무·서비스·판매 종사자), 직능수준 2–3
📌 E-7-2 key restrictions
E-7-2 occupations have stricter employer requirements than E-7-1 — including employer quota limits (typically 10–20% of Korean national employees) and higher documentation burden. The minimum salary is KRW 26,130,000/year. Government ministry recommendation is required for some roles.
Office Workers (사무종사자)
5 occupations| 1 | Sales clerk at duty-free shop or Jeju English Education City (면세점 또는 제주영어교육도시 내 판매 사무원) | 31215 |
| 2 | Air transport office worker / flight attendant (항공운송 사무원) | 31264 |
| 3 | Hotel receptionist (호텔 접수 사무원) † | 3922 |
| 4 | Medical coordinator (의료 코디네이터) † | S3922 |
| 5 | Customer service representative (고객상담 사무원) | 3991 |
Service Workers (서비스종사자)
5 occupations| 1 | Transport service worker (운송 서비스 종사자) | 431 |
| 2 | Tourism interpretation guide (관광 통역 안내원) † | 43213 |
| 3 | Casino dealer (카지노 딜러) | 43291 |
| 4 | Head chef and cook (주방장 및 조리사) | 441 |
| 5 | Care worker for elderly / disabled (요양보호사) | 42111 |
5. E-7-3: General Skilled (일반기능인력) — 14 Occupations
📋 Source: March 2026 manual, p.184 | 분류: 대분류 6–8, 직능수준 2
⚠️ E-7-3: Government ministry recommendation required for most
Most E-7-3 occupations require a government ministry recommendation letter (고용추천서) as a mandatory document. Without it, applications are rejected. Check the specific requirements for your occupation code with the relevant ministry before applying.
General Skilled Occupations
14 occupations| 1 | Animal keeper (동물사육사) | 61395 |
| 2 | Aquaculture technician (양식기술자) † | 6301 |
| 3 | Halal slaughterer (할랄 도축원) † | 7103 |
| 4 | Musical instrument maker and tuner (악기제조 및 조율사) | 7303 |
| 5 | Shipbuilding welder (조선 용접공) † | 7406 |
| 6 | Ship electrician (선박 전기원) † | 76212 |
| 7 | Ship painter (선박 도장공) † | 78369 |
| 8 | Aircraft maintenance technician (항공기 정비원) † | 7521 |
| 9 | Aircraft parts manufacturer (항공기(부품) 제조원) † | S8417 |
| 10 | Transmission line electrician (송전 전기원) | 76231 |
| 11 | Automobile parts manufacturer (자동차 부품제조원) † | S85411 |
| 12 | Auto body / paint technician (자동차 판금·도장원) † | S75104 |
| 13 | Slaughterer (도축원) | S71032 |
| 14 | Construction machinery parts manufacturer (건설기계(부품)제조원) | S85513 |
6. E-7-4: Skilled Labor — K-Point (숙련기능인력) — 3 Occupational Categories
📋 Source: March 2026 manual, p.184
E-7-4 K-Point Categories
3 categories| 1 | Root industry skilled worker — metalworking, casting, forging, welding, heat treatment (뿌리산업체 숙련기능공) | S740 |
| 2 | Agriculture, forestry, livestock, fisheries skilled worker (농림축산어업 숙련기능인) | S610 |
| 3 | General manufacturing and construction skilled worker (일반 제조업체 및 건설업체 숙련기능공) | S700 |
💡 E-7-4 is a completely different process
E-7-4 uses the K-Point scoring system — not the standard qualification-based approach of E-7-1 through E-7-3. You must already be in Korea on an E-9 or H-2 visa. A minimum of 200 points is required. TOPIK Level 2 is legally required (with deferral option until December 2026). See our complete E-7-4 K-Point guide →
7. Special Categories: E-7-S, E-7-Y, E-7-T
| Category | Who it’s for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| E-7-S (Negative list) | High earners (E-7-S1) and workers in designated advanced industries (E-7-S2) | E-7-S1: Annual income ≥ 3× GNI (≈ KRW 157M). No occupation restriction. E-7-S2: Employment at designated advanced tech company. |
| E-7-Y (Domestic growth talent) | Foreign nationals who grew up in Korea — raised in the Korean education system | Occupation code 9999. Must demonstrate Korean educational background and cultural integration. |
| E-7-T (Top talent) | Top-tier global talent in advanced industries | Employed at a qualifying advanced tech company. Streamlined approval with minimum documentation. No occupation list restriction. |
8. How to Check If Your Job Qualifies
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Match your job title to an occupation | Find the closest match from the tables above. Your job title doesn’t need to be an exact word-for-word match — what matters is that your actual work activities align with the occupation description. When in doubt, check the Korean occupation description and examples in the manual. |
| 2. Note the occupation code | The occupation code (e.g., 2223 for Application Software Developer) is what your employer uses on the visa application. Confirm the code with your employer’s HR before submitting documents. |
| 3. Check ministry recommendation requirement | Occupations marked † require a government ministry recommendation letter (고용추천서). This is a mandatory document — missing it means rejection. Identify which ministry covers your occupation and initiate the recommendation process early. |
| 4. Verify your qualification meets the standard | For E-7-1: ① Master’s degree in relevant field, OR ② Bachelor’s + 1 year relevant experience, OR ③ 5 years relevant experience. For E-7-2 and E-7-3: specific requirements vary — check the manual for your occupation code. |
| 5. Confirm salary meets minimum | E-7-1: KRW 31,120,000/year minimum (effective Feb 1, 2026). E-7-2 and E-7-3: KRW 26,130,000/year. These are annual totals of base salary + fixed allowances — variable bonuses don’t count. |
✅ My occupation isn’t on this list — what are my options?
- Check similar occupations: Immigration allows applications under the closest matching occupation if your work activities genuinely align — this is called 유사직종 허용
- E-7-S1 (high income): If your annual salary exceeds 3× GNI (≈ KRW 157M), occupation restrictions don’t apply
- E-7-T (top talent): If employed at a qualifying advanced tech company, the occupation list doesn’t apply
- Other visa categories: D-8 (startup), D-10 (job seeker), or F-series visas may be applicable depending on your situation
Related: E-7 Visa Korea: Complete 2026 Guide →
Related: E-7 Eligibility Requirements: Qualifications and Salary →
Related: E-7-4 K-Point Score Table 2026 →
Disclaimer: The occupation list and codes in this guide are from the 사증민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 (March 2026, p.182–184). Occupation codes and eligibility requirements are subject to revision by the Ministry of Justice. Always verify the current list at hikorea.go.kr or through the 1345 immigration helpline before applying. Ministry recommendation requirements (†) should be confirmed with the relevant government ministry for your specific occupation.